Son of Chauncey H. & Elizabeth Berkey. Graduated from Southwestern State Normal School, California, PA (now California University of Pennsylvania) in 1884. Studied law under Coffroth & Ruppel.
--History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history: Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn ; Somerset County by William H. Welfley. New York: Lewis Pub. Co., 1906. Pages 29-30.
(https://archive.org/details/historyofbedford03blac/)
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Judge John Albert Berkey, 85, died in the Somerset Community Hospital, Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., following a lingering illness.

He was admitted to the hospital last November 27, following an embolism, and some months later submitted to an operation for the removal of his left leg.

He was the oldest member of the Somerset County Bar, to which he was admitted in 1889. In 1892 he was elected district attorney, which position he held until 1895. He served as State Commissioner of Banking from 1905 to 1909.

In 1910 he was unsuccessful as the Republican candidate for the office of judge of the County courts, William H. Ruppel, Democrat, being elected. In 1920 he was again a candidate on the Republican ticket and was elected, serving the full term of ten years. When he stepped from the bench in 1930 he returned to the private practice of law, continuing his law office until ill health last year forced his retirement.

He was born in Jefferson Township, January 31, 1861. His twin sister, Mrs. Mary Jane Berkey Barron, died in 1909. In his early manhood he taught school and spent his free hours reading law.

He was married April 3, 1887, to Miss Annie Barron, who died February 5, 1935. He is survived by three daughters: Mabel, wife of Ross R. Rinard, Somerset, with whom he made his home in recent years; Sue, wife of the Hon. G. Mason Owlett of Wellsboro, and Mary Jane, wife of J. Mortimer Kentch, also of Wellsboro. There are five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock, D.S.T., at the Walter S. Hoffman Funeral home, Rev. I. Hess Wagner, D.D., will officiate. Burial in the Husband Cemetery.

--Meyersdale Republican, May 16, 1946
(http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/obits/b4/berkey-john-a.txt)

Son of Chauncey H. & Elizabeth Berkey. Graduated from Southwestern State Normal School, California, PA (now California University of Pennsylvania) in 1884. Studied law under Coffroth & Ruppel.
--History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history: Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn ; Somerset County by William H. Welfley. New York: Lewis Pub. Co., 1906. Pages 29-30.
(https://archive.org/details/historyofbedford03blac/)
============================================
Judge John Albert Berkey, 85, died in the Somerset Community Hospital, Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., following a lingering illness.

He was admitted to the hospital last November 27, following an embolism, and some months later submitted to an operation for the removal of his left leg.

He was the oldest member of the Somerset County Bar, to which he was admitted in 1889. In 1892 he was elected district attorney, which position he held until 1895. He served as State Commissioner of Banking from 1905 to 1909.

In 1910 he was unsuccessful as the Republican candidate for the office of judge of the County courts, William H. Ruppel, Democrat, being elected. In 1920 he was again a candidate on the Republican ticket and was elected, serving the full term of ten years. When he stepped from the bench in 1930 he returned to the private practice of law, continuing his law office until ill health last year forced his retirement.

He was born in Jefferson Township, January 31, 1861. His twin sister, Mrs. Mary Jane Berkey Barron, died in 1909. In his early manhood he taught school and spent his free hours reading law.

He was married April 3, 1887, to Miss Annie Barron, who died February 5, 1935. He is survived by three daughters: Mabel, wife of Ross R. Rinard, Somerset, with whom he made his home in recent years; Sue, wife of the Hon. G. Mason Owlett of Wellsboro, and Mary Jane, wife of J. Mortimer Kentch, also of Wellsboro. There are five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock, D.S.T., at the Walter S. Hoffman Funeral home, Rev. I. Hess Wagner, D.D., will officiate. Burial in the Husband Cemetery.

--Meyersdale Republican, May 16, 1946
(http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/obits/b4/berkey-john-a.txt)